NewSpin
Greenhorn
First, I'll clarify what I mean by hardcore casualist... my current farm has over 200 hours... currently on winter 14 year 1. I've completed the museum, maxed hearts with all villagers except Leo and Kent, and cleared/utilized my entire farm since end of spring. This is because I rely heavily on the timespeed mod. I love the game, but it stresses me out to have to be so efficient with my days. I want to have the time to take care of my farm, do a full lap around the map for crab pots/foresting/foraging, giving gifts, and then I guess I usually choose between fishing/mining/desert/island to finish my day. I've decided this is best way for me to play... Also, many of my 200+ hours are from being afk. I was a major mmo player, but after recently figuring out I'm pretty adhd and learning to deal with it, I'm splitting my time between fixing my real life and using Stardew to fill my downtime. It's much better mentally than having to deal with the fomo that accompanies mmo gaming. (Aside from timespeed mod, I think the only one I use just shows me prices on things when I hover over them in my inventory although I'd like to try expanded one day)
Anyway, I have some pretty straightforward suggestions that may not be anything particularly new, but I felt if I read a bunch of other posts first it might influence my own perspective... I'll read them later though and I apologize for any duplications.
1. I would like to see the option to lengthen the day outside of a PC mod. I know the length of the day is there for a reason. I'm not going to suggest it's wrong, but it stresses me out personally, and I just can't enjoy the game while feeling the pressure of 7 second long hours. I personally don't want to choose between having time to go into town to visit neighbors or make a lap around the forest (as an example). Even if timespeed modifiers disabled achievements or something like that I'd be ok with it. I have the game on PS4 and Switch, but I don't think I can go back. I'm currently playing 50 second long hours, which is far longer than necessary and now that I'm far enough into the game I'm usually done with everything I want to do by like 3pm, but I'd say an option of 15 second hours would keep the balance of being efficient while still allowing you to get through the full map in a day.
2. Building on #1... I can't imagine playing multiplayer with my kids (or anyone I guess) with both the shortened days and no ability to pause. In earlier playthroughs of the game, I paused the game constantly to plan my next steps to maximize my time in a day. Even if there's no plans to make single player days longer, please provide an option to extend multiplayer days due to the game not pausing when windows pop up.
3. Silo customization - I love the ability to customize my house and farm buildings. I'm more about efficiency than decorating, but I'm trying to find a balance. One eyesore for me is my silo.... right next to a barn that's a much darker red. I'd like to request it silos either be given customization options, or that they simply automatically match the color scheme of the nearest customizable building.
4. Add Community Center features after completion - My favorite part of any playthrough is completing the community center, but then I just don't go back even though I'm so proud of what I've done. I have a couple options/suggestions to keep it relevant. I'm not saying they all should be added, but something to give me a meaningful reason to go back.
I have a few last suggestions, but they are way beyond the scope of just in-game tweaks/improvements.
6. Official support/backing development of expanded. I would gladly pay for expanded rather than just have it as a mod if it was given an official release through CA with possibly some minor tweaks that he felt was necessary to bring it in line with the rest of the game (I haven't played expanded yet, so I'm not sure how much this is needed or not, but an official version sounds like a win-win to me for everyone involved, from potentially small improvements to the expansion to customers on other platforms having access to it, to the designer of the mod getting more financial support, and CA also getting a cut since it's his game.
7. I'm sure many would disagree and this has become less important to me over time, but I wish there was a HD version of the game. This still seems like the best of the bunch in terms of the genre, but I admit I'm a graphics snob and I keep hoping for a game with better graphics that at least matches this one in terms of everything else. Currently I have my eyes on Coral Island, but it's too soon to know if it'll meet expectations. I'd gladly pay for the game all over again to have it in HD, even at a higher price point of like $30 or more (I'm sure it would require additional employees or a 3rd party contractor)
Thanks to any who take time to look at this. It's just my 2 cents, and I'd love to hear what you think (for or against).
Happy Farming!
Anyway, I have some pretty straightforward suggestions that may not be anything particularly new, but I felt if I read a bunch of other posts first it might influence my own perspective... I'll read them later though and I apologize for any duplications.
1. I would like to see the option to lengthen the day outside of a PC mod. I know the length of the day is there for a reason. I'm not going to suggest it's wrong, but it stresses me out personally, and I just can't enjoy the game while feeling the pressure of 7 second long hours. I personally don't want to choose between having time to go into town to visit neighbors or make a lap around the forest (as an example). Even if timespeed modifiers disabled achievements or something like that I'd be ok with it. I have the game on PS4 and Switch, but I don't think I can go back. I'm currently playing 50 second long hours, which is far longer than necessary and now that I'm far enough into the game I'm usually done with everything I want to do by like 3pm, but I'd say an option of 15 second hours would keep the balance of being efficient while still allowing you to get through the full map in a day.
2. Building on #1... I can't imagine playing multiplayer with my kids (or anyone I guess) with both the shortened days and no ability to pause. In earlier playthroughs of the game, I paused the game constantly to plan my next steps to maximize my time in a day. Even if there's no plans to make single player days longer, please provide an option to extend multiplayer days due to the game not pausing when windows pop up.
3. Silo customization - I love the ability to customize my house and farm buildings. I'm more about efficiency than decorating, but I'm trying to find a balance. One eyesore for me is my silo.... right next to a barn that's a much darker red. I'd like to request it silos either be given customization options, or that they simply automatically match the color scheme of the nearest customizable building.
4. Add Community Center features after completion - My favorite part of any playthrough is completing the community center, but then I just don't go back even though I'm so proud of what I've done. I have a couple options/suggestions to keep it relevant. I'm not saying they all should be added, but something to give me a meaningful reason to go back.
- Add birthday parties for villagers so that after center completion, a villager and their friends meet for a couple hours in the center (if your hearts are high enough with them they send you a letter). Different villagers would attend different parties based on the personality and friends - this could go deeper with heart events etc. or not.
- 1 activity per season added to game upon center completion which takes place in the center (I kinda like the birthday thing more though)
- Ability to put fish in the tank (or let a villager do it.. maybe Willey and Vincent can bond over snails and catfish)
- Add little town garden in the fenced area next to the center (Jas, could get involved, learning from Evelyn and Caroline)
- Your own kids could go there once old enough - maybe Penny could move up there from the library to teach school with your kids in attendance.
I have a few last suggestions, but they are way beyond the scope of just in-game tweaks/improvements.
6. Official support/backing development of expanded. I would gladly pay for expanded rather than just have it as a mod if it was given an official release through CA with possibly some minor tweaks that he felt was necessary to bring it in line with the rest of the game (I haven't played expanded yet, so I'm not sure how much this is needed or not, but an official version sounds like a win-win to me for everyone involved, from potentially small improvements to the expansion to customers on other platforms having access to it, to the designer of the mod getting more financial support, and CA also getting a cut since it's his game.
7. I'm sure many would disagree and this has become less important to me over time, but I wish there was a HD version of the game. This still seems like the best of the bunch in terms of the genre, but I admit I'm a graphics snob and I keep hoping for a game with better graphics that at least matches this one in terms of everything else. Currently I have my eyes on Coral Island, but it's too soon to know if it'll meet expectations. I'd gladly pay for the game all over again to have it in HD, even at a higher price point of like $30 or more (I'm sure it would require additional employees or a 3rd party contractor)
Thanks to any who take time to look at this. It's just my 2 cents, and I'd love to hear what you think (for or against).
Happy Farming!
